At The Movies: Remember Whose You Are – Lion King (Week 1)
Preacher: Pastor Daniel Erasmus
Worship:
Spend a few moments worshipping together, focusing on God’s love, acceptance, and identity as our Father.
Suggested Worship Songs
- Who You Say I Am – Hillsong Worship
- Good Good Father – Chris Tomlin
Worship Focus
Thank God that our identity is not based on our performance, achievements, failures, or the labels others place on us. Worship Him as the Father who chooses, adopts, and calls us His own.
Check-in:
Take a few moments to connect as a group.
- What was a highlight from your week?
- What stood out to you most from Sunday’s message?
- When people ask, “Tell me about yourself,” how do you usually describe who you are?
Key Scriptures:
- Ephesians 1:4-5
- Ephesians 2:10
- Galatians 4:6-7
- Jeremiah 1:5
- 1 Peter 2:9-10
Sermon Summary:
This week’s message explored the theme of identity through the story of Simba in The Lion King. Beneath the adventure and memorable songs lies a powerful picture of what happens when someone forgets who they are.
The message reminded us that our identity is not something we achieve but something we receive. Before we accomplish anything, God has already chosen us, adopted us into His family, and calls us His children. Our identity is rooted in whose we are, not what we do.
Like Simba, many people allow mistakes, failures, labels, or past experiences to define them. Shame has a way of convincing us that what we’ve done is who we are. When we lose sight of our identity, we often lose sight of our purpose and settle for less than what God intends for us.
The turning point in Simba’s story comes when he remembers who he is. In the same way, spiritual transformation begins when we remember whose we are. Through Christ, we are chosen, known, loved, forgiven, and called into God’s family.
The invitation of the message was simple: stop listening to the lies that define you by your past and begin
embracing the truth of what God says about you.
Discussion Questions:
- Identity and Labels
The message highlighted how easy it is to build our identity around what we do, what we’ve achieved, or mistakes we’ve made.
What are some of the labels people commonly carry, and how do these labels influence the way we see ourselves? - Remembering Whose You Are
Simba’s life began to change when he remembered who he was.
Which truth from the Scriptures about your identity in Christ stands out most to you, and why? - Living From Identity
The message challenged us that when identity is lost, purpose is often lost as well.
What might change in your daily life if you consistently lived from the truth that you are God’s beloved son or daughter? What needs to shift to live in alignment with the identity that you have in Christ?
Prayer Pointers | Pray together for:
- Freedom from false labels, shame, and negative self-perceptions.
- Greater confidence in what God says about us.
- A deeper understanding of our identity as sons and daughters of God.
- Friends and family members who may be struggling to understand their God-given identity.
- Courage to live out the purpose God has for our lives.
Weekly Application:
Spend time this week reflecting on one of the key identity Scriptures from Sunday.
Each day, thank God for one truth about who you are in Christ:
- Chosen
- Loved
- Forgiven
- Adopted
- Known
- Called
Ask yourself: Am I defining myself by what I’ve done, or by what God says about me?
